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Need some positive thoughts

The weather change here seems to be affecting all the Cavaliers but Blitz the most. He was great last night and this morning... running and bouncing...then sudden a SM attack. He went to jump on the couch with a small toy in his mouth and midjump started yelping and tried to run off screaming The worst of it only lasted about 1 minute but he is still uncomfortable. At first I thought maybe he pulled something but now it's the neck scratching and pawing his head. Gave him an extra dose of meds. We have storms rolling in as I type so I know that's what is triggering it.

I can get him into the GP vet today but I'm not sure there is anything else to be done? She has been taking my recommendations on treatment. She does not know much about SM. She has Clares Treatment plan on the top of our file. She really don't know much about the condition. Right now he is on 100mg Gabapentin 3X a day + Cimetidine. I have Rimadyl for pain as needed. Our neurologist wont deal with us anymore unless we take him up there (10 hours of driving round trip). I feel terrible because the drive just is not possible at the moment. Our neurologist has been blunt that he really is not a medically treatable dog and surgery is his only hope. I really don't feel surgery is fair for him after the life he has had. Personally I'm not liking our neurologist and I have been dealing more with my GP vet. Most days Blitz is happy and playful... but every time a storm or cold front comes in he gets set off.

Should I request an increase in Gabapentin? Whenever he has a "bad" day I usually give him an extra dose (or two) if really needed. But on good days he is nearly symptom free of his current dose. The last month he has started having a lot more bad days but this last month we have had multiple cold fronts and storms coming in. Should we just increase the dose just when he is having a bad day? Or all the time? I'm starting to think I should increase the dose the day before a cold front or storms are expected to hit?

I think if this was my dog I would try putting up the dose in preparation for incoming storms and seeing if that helps. Alternatively maybe Lyrica? Can you discuss it with your GP vet?

Ideally you would be discussing this with your neurologist but that attitude is not great - surely they must realise that people don't always want to risk surgery or can't afford to, but they should still help you to manage your dog medically whilst you can keep them comfortable.

I will be sending Blitz positive thoughts. You are doing a wonderful job taking care of him and keeping him as pain free as possible. I really don't have any advice to give but I agree SM is fustrating and it seems like a juggling act at times to get the dosages just right. The picture of your son and Blitz is adorable. Just proves that Blitz is in good hands.

I think if this was my dog I would try putting up the dose in preparation for incoming storms and seeing if that helps. Alternatively maybe Lyrica? Can you discuss it with your GP vet?

I didn't think about switching to lyrica. Our neurologist didn't want to try him on Lyrica (we asked when he was diagnosed) He said Gabapentin would control his air licking issues better. I'm assuming lyrica comes in a tablet and doesn't have to be a compound? Our neurologist had us using compounds only. There are only a few local compounding pharmacies around us so it's kind of a pain to get. He never gave a good reason other then he wanted to start on the smallest dose possible (he started Blitz on 50mg Gabapentin and it was like pulling teeth to get the dose increased! He went to 75 mgs and finally very reluctantly to 100mg but then ended our prescription soon after) It was my GP vet that finally switched us over to the capsule and it's also cheaper. This is Flash's last month on Lyrica because his neurologist will not fill any more prescriptions. We are going to my vet on Monday to get her to write us a new prescription for Flash. I will talk to her about using it for Blitz too.

I don't know what I would do without our GP vet. She has proven to be amazing. She only have 1 other Cavalier in her clinic so I'm not surprised about her lack of knowledge about SM. But I am forever greatful that she is always willing to listen and learn!

[QUOTE=Reptigirl;407996]There are only a few local compounding pharmacies around us so it's kind of a pain to get.QUOTE]

Not sure where you're located, I'm in San Diego and Sydney's cardiologist has hooked us up with a compound pharmacy in Arizona for his Viagra. It is a third of the cost if I had to buy it locally. I don't know if I can post the name or web address here, but if you PM me I will get you the info.

If you're not happy with your nearest neurologist, why not ask your vet to email Clare Rusbridge for advice? She is so helpful - I don't know where she finds the time! - and she would be able to advise you whether it would work better to give extra doses of gabapentin before weather changes, or increase the daily dose, or do both. I00mg x 3 is very much the basic dose.

I really feel for you. I am new to all the SM stuff and two of mine have it. Two nights ago we had a big weather change and I knew mine were worse, not as bad as you described Blitz.
I can’t give any advice but would like to say that I am thinking of you and Blitz.